War has always been part of the American experience. From the time the first colonists set foot upon North America's shores, they were in conflict with the Native inhabitants. One hundred years later the colonies suddenly found themselves an extension of the conflicts in Europe. Less than a century later, the Revolutionary War freed the fledgling United States from its British overlords and European entanglements. Born and nurtured in war, America grew in strength and power until at the beginning of the 21st century it was the foremost military power in the world.

Join George Kennedy as he takes us on this 300-year saga of The Complete DVD History of U.S. Wars. An ideal educational series for American History studies.

Series of 8 programs on 4 DVDs.

Educational history series EXTRAS:* English Subtitled for the Hearing Impaired.* Spanish Subtitled* 38 Downloadable Maps* 3 Downloadable Timelines* Downloadable Historical Overview of American Weapons from the Founding of Jamestown into the 21st Century* Hi-Def Enhanced

Program 1 - Wars for the ContinentAt the start of the 18th-century two factors shaped the colonial approach to war. First, early colonists found themselves isolated in hostile territory. If they were going to survive attacks from local tribes they would have to do it on their wn. There would be no help from the mother country. So they had to develop unique tactics and strategies similar to the native populations they were fighting. It was the beginning of the self-reliant character that would define Americans.

Second, the colonists participated in the dramatic change taking place in European weaponry that came with the introduction of gunpowder. Muskets, pistols and cannons replaced swords and other cutting edge weapons. However, the isolation from Europe ended when the four powers- the French, the English, the Spanish and the Native Americans- vied for control of the North American continent.

Program Two - The Revolutionary WarThe American colonists, having rid themselves of the French and the Native Americans, found a new threat: their own mother country, Britain. The Boston Massacre, followed by the Boston tea Party were the beginnings of a rebellion. Britain, with more than 3000 troops in Massachusetts colony, moved rapidly to put the rebellion down. Its strategy was to capture the leaders and munitions in the rebel center of Concord Massachusetts. This action led directly to the first battle of the Revolutionary War.... One in which the colonists quickly learned that their militia units could not stand up to the European style of fighting. Rather than fighting rows of soldiers against rows of soldiers, the colonists adopted the Native American strategy of fighting from concealment. Let's look at how "the shot heard around the world" started the American Revolution

Program 3 - Manifest Destiny WarsIn this program we look at the 50 years between the Revolutionary War and the Alamo. This period was the beginning of the United States' push westward...what would ultimately be called Manifest Destiny.

Program 4 - The Civil WarIn our fourth program we look at the years 1846 to 1865. The two wars America fought in this period could not have been more different. The Mexican American War of 1846 was a brief, almost light-hearted campaign that ended quickly and brought vast new territory to the nation. Fifteen years later, the ultimate pain of war fell directly upon the country for the first time. These were the darkest years militarily for the Republic...a time when Americans turned new, more lethal, weapons on each other in the Civil War.

1846 - United States Declares War on Mexico1861 - Eleven States Comprise the Confederacy1862 - Emancipation Proclamation1863 - Lincoln delivers his Gettysburg Address1863 - The Fall of Vicksburg1865 - Lee Surrenders at Appomattox

Program 5 - The Imperial WarsIn the fifth program we look at the years 1868 to 1918. With the Civil War over, the call of Manifest Destiny turned Americans westward once more, and very quickly the United States became engaged in its longest running war, The Plains Indians War, from 1868 to 1890. We also see America's brief flirtation with Imperialism, as the U.S. for first time took its growing military might onto the world stage in the Spanish-American War and then again in World War One.

1750- Native American Horse Cultures Dominate the Great Plains1876- Battle at the Little Big Horn1890- Battle at Wounded Knee1898 - Sinking of the Maine1914 - 1917 - America Prepares for World War I1917 - America Enters World War I

Program 6 - The Global WarsAfter World War I the 19th century's old balance of power vanished. Once more world domination through military conquest loomed as an actual possibility. In the sixth program, the global wars, we look at the years 1939 to 1953 as America spread it's military across half the planet and took command of the fight against totalitarianism in World War II and communism in the Korean War.

1941 - Japanese Bomb Pearl Harbor1944 - D-Day "Operation Overlord"1945 - The Air Force Drops an Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima1950 - President Truman Sends American Troops to the Aid of South Korea1950 - 1953 The Korean War

Program 7 - The Cold WarBy the middle of the 20th-century, a completely new kind of war emerged. It was a war whose battles did not allow for direct confrontation between the two main combatants, the United States and the Soviet Union. This was because direct confrontation with atomic weapons would have led to the total annihilation of both adversaries. In the seventh program we look at the years from 1952 to 1969. These were the principal years of the Cold War battles between America and the Soviet Union.

Program 8 - The Police WarsAs the Vietnam War drew to a close, it became clear that the American military had experienced a devastating defeat to a communist adversary. It was the first loss in U.S. history. Ironically, at the same time the danger from the greater nemesis of global communism was on the decline. In this program we look at the years 1973 to 2004...a time when the American military would reach an all-time low only to reemerge as the world's single superpower with a new role as the world's policeman.

"Actor George Kennedy hosts this comprehensive study of U.S. wars. Moving chronologically from the 1702 Queen Anne's War to the 2003 Gulf War, this ambitious four-DVD set blends a variety of visuals, including animated maps, film clips, costumed reenactments, period paintings, and location shots, with straightforward narration to examine the origins and outcomes of each conflict. Kennedy bridges each segment with commentary explaining how each war led to the subsequent war. Clearly marked chapter headings allow users to zero in on selected topics- Additional maps, timelines, and test questions can be accessed through a computer. Similar in format to Twentieth Century Turning Points in U.S. History" [BKL N 15 04], this is a useful classroom resource."

"Actor George Kennedy hosts this comprehensive study of U.S. wars. Moving chronologically from the 1702 Queen Anne's War to the 2003 Gulf War, this ambitious four-DVD set blends a variety of visuals, including animated maps, film clips, costumed reenactments, period paintings, and location shots, with straightforward narration to examine the origins and outcomes of each conflict. Kennedy bridges each segment with commentary explaining how each war led to the subsequent war. Clearly marked chapter headings allow users to zero in on selected topics- Additional maps, timelines, and test questions can be accessed through a computer. Similar in format to Twentieth Century Turning Points in U.S. History" [BKL N 15 04], this is a useful classroom resource."

- Candace Smith, BOOKLIST

"Well produced! Complete visual history of America at war! Good for general audiences and schools!"

"This set doesn't pretend to be a comprehensive history, only "complete," as in no wars or conflicts omitted. As a USA Today treatment, it's a good overview, with more merits than flaws. Watching this show provides a broad view of U.S. military encounters and exposes patterns of U.S. behavior that may be lost or overlooked in more detailed studies. "The Complete DVD History of U.S. Wars" has a number of significant visuals and succinct summaries that will appeal even to military history enthusiasts, but by and large this set is for a general audience, recommended for public libraries and (because the footage is less graphic than many other war documentaries) also schools. The emphasis is on bottom-line brevity. No talking heads add academic weight, but that also means the pace of this documentary is faster, and the tone less dry."

- Jim Plath, DVD Town (online)

"From 1700 through the present day, America has been involved in a seemingly unending series of conflicts. This nicely produced 8-part series provides a concise overview of America's storied military tradition, arranged in chronological order. Features informative narration, historical re-enactments, archive footage and DVD extras including downloadable historical overviews, maps and timelines. Recommended for students of American history and military buffs of all ages. You'll want to watch these DVDs again and again to learn more."

- historyplace.com

"this is a great series for educators who can follow up with additional classroom materials and discussions. The on-camera host is George Kennedy. Kennedy is a World War II veteran who earned 2 Bronze Stars in Europe and served as a driver for General Patton. He also was the military advisor to the Phil Silvers television show in the 1950s."